Court upholds 10 million won damages ruling against YouTuber Ppukga
BJ Gwa-jup Se-yeon has won her appeal in a damages lawsuit against YouTuber Ppukga, who raised allegations regarding her private life. The court upheld the original ruling ordering Ppukga to pay 10 million won in damages.
The Seoul Central District Court has upheld a verdict ordering YouTuber Ppukga to pay 10 million won to BJ Gwa-jup Se-yeon on the 10th. The ruling follows a lawsuit filed in September 2024 after Ppukga used online anonymity to spread allegations regarding Gwa-jup Se-yeon's private life.
BJ Gwa-jup Se-yeon (real name In Se-yeon) has won her appeal in a damages lawsuit against the cyber wrecker YouTuber Ppukga, who raised allegations including prostitution involving her. Following the first trial, the appellate court also ruled that Ppukga must pay 10 million won to Gwa-jup Se-yeon, reaffirming legal responsibility for allegations spread online.
On the 10th, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Appeals 10-2 Division (Presiding Judges Jeong Do-seong, Jegal Chang, and Kim Hye-jin) upheld the first instance verdict in the damages claim filed by Gwa-jup Se-yeon against Ppukga. Accordingly, Ppukga must pay 10 million won to Gwa-jup Se-yeon. While Gwa-jup Se-yeon had claimed 30 million won, the court maintained the compensation amount recognized in the previous first trial.
The lawsuit began when Ppukga raised allegations regarding Gwa-jup Se-yeon's private life on his YouTube channel. In his videos, Ppukga mentioned claims that Gwa-jup Se-yeon had sexual relations in exchange for monetary compensation, as well as allegations that she engaged in gambling in Las Vegas, USA. Gwa-jup Se-yeon took legal action, stating that these contents defamed her and caused severe mental distress.
Gwa-jup Se-yeon filed the 30 million won damages lawsuit against Ppukga in September 2024. It was reported that there were difficulties in proceeding with the lawsuit at the time because Ppukga's identity could not be clearly identified. Gwa-jup Se-yeon subsequently secured Ppukga's identity through the discovery system of a U.S. federal court after obtaining approval from a local court there. Through these legal procedures, she identified the true identity of a YouTuber who had been active based on online anonymity.
During the litigation process, Ppukga applied for a stay of the trial proceedings, but the court did not accept the request. Subsequently, in October last year, the first instance court ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff, ordering Ppukga to pay 10 million won to Gwa-jup Se-yeon. It was a decision that partially recognized the liability for compensation regarding the defamation and mental damage claimed by Gwa-jup Se-yeon.
The appeal proceeded as both sides disagreed with the first instance verdict. Ppukga appealed because he was dissatisfied with the compensation ruling, and Gwa-jup Se-yeon also appealed on the same day because the full amount she claimed was not recognized. However, the appellate court maintained the first instance judgment, reaffirming Ppukga's liability and the amount of compensation.
This ruling is drawing attention as a case that re-emphasizes the legal responsibility for "cyber wrecker" activities that consume allegations surrounding an individual's privacy and reputation as content. In particular, it carries significance in that even allegations raised online using anonymity can lead to civil liability for damages if they defame a party and cause harm. However, the specific reasoning for this appellate ruling and whether further legal procedures will follow need to be confirmed separately.
Oh Seo-yoon reports for Mediafine Global, mainly covering K-Variety and also writing on K-drama, K-pop and K-movie.
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